Method and device for displaying information, in particular in a vehicle

ABSTRACT

In a method for displaying information, in particular in a vehicle, a list of multiple graphic objects is graphically represented on a display, a display area of the display being associated with each represented graphic object and the objects being selectable for executing a function. Prior to the selection of one of the objects, an animation runs in the display area of at least one graphic object, which illustrates the function associated with the graphic object.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method for displaying information, inwhich a list of multiple graphic objects is graphically represented on adisplay, a display area of the display being assigned to eachrepresented graphic object and the objects being selectable forexecuting a function. Furthermore, the present invention relates to adevice for displaying information having a display for the graphicalrepresentation of information, a control unit, which is able to producegraphics data, which graphically represent at least one list of multiplegraphic objects on the display, a display area of the display and afunction being associated with each represented graphic object, and aninput device for selecting an object shown on the display. In the methodand using the device, information is displayed in particular in avehicle. In this case, the display is mounted in the vehicle.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

There are various information and communication areas in a motor vehicleto which display instruments are assigned. They are provided to informthe driver and the passengers. Furthermore, they can assist the driverin navigation or communication with the outside world. In particular,the display can visually represent traffic-related or operational dataof the vehicle. The so-called instrument cluster is disposed near thedriver's primary visual field. It is typically located in the cockpitbehind the steering wheel and is visible through an opening in thesteering wheel. In particular, it is used to indicate the speed, thefuel level, radiator temperature and other operation-related informationof the motor vehicle. Additionally, radio and other audio functions mayalso be represented. Finally, it is possible to show menus fortelephone, navigation, telematic services and multi-media applications.Liquid crystal displays of different designs are typically utilized asdisplays.

DE 100 01 988, for instance, describes an instrument cluster fordisplaying data relating to operation and/or traffic. To be better ableto accommodate the manifold information, DE 103 03 792 provides for aperspective representation of three-dimensional elements.

As an additional display device, a vehicle frequently has amultifunction display in the center console or above the center console.Such a display for a multifunction operating element is described forexample in DE 199 41 955.

Hierarchical menu structures are often used to display the manifoldoperating and display options in a clearly laid out manner.

The menu items of a menu are often represented in the form of a listbased on graphic objects. When one of the represented graphic objects isselected, then the function associated with the corresponding menu itemis executed. This function may also include the display of a submenuwith additional submenu items.

Using such lists of selectable graphic objects in a vehicle poses theproblem that registering the information shown by the display, such asthe association of a desired function with a displayed graphic object,requires the diver's attention such that the driver becomes distractedfrom driving the vehicle. It is therefore desirable to represent theinformation in the vehicle such that it may be registered quickly andintuitively by the driver such that the apprehension of the representedinformation does not result in a distraction of the driver whiledriving. Furthermore, it should be possible to perform the operation insuch an intuitive, simple and quick manner that the driver is able tooperate the devices of the vehicle, the information of which isrepresented on the display device, even while driving. Therepresentation of information and the operation associated with arepresentation of information in the motor vehicle thus contributes tosafety when driving the motor vehicle.

SUMMARY

Example embodiments of the present invention provide a method and adevice of the type mentioned at the outset, in which the representedinformation is apprehensible as quickly and intuitively as possible andwhich allows for a quick, intuitive and simple operation particularly ofvehicle devices, the information of which is displayed.

The method according to example embodiments of the present invention ischaracterized by the fact that prior to the selection of one of theobjects, an animation runs in the display area of at least one graphicobject, which illustrates the function associated with the graphicobject.

When a multitude of graphic objects are simultaneously represented onthe display e.g. in a vehicle, the static display of an icon, i.e. of animage and/or text element, at times cannot be apprehended quickly enoughby the driver while driving. The display of an animation according toexample embodiments of the present invention, which is associated withthe graphic object, has the effect that the function associated with theobject may be recognized more intuitively and more quickly by thedriver.

In a vehicle, there is furthermore the particular circumstance that dueto the space conditions in the interior of the vehicle the displays usedare normally relatively small. If multiple graphic objects of a list areshown on the display, then the display area associated with a graphicobject is often very small, which further hampers the recognizability ofthe informational content of the graphic representation. In this case aswell, the playback of an animation associated with the object makes itpossible for the observer to recognize the function associated with theobject more quickly and more intuitively.

It should be noted that the display areas associated with the objectsare not static, but variable. The objects may be geometrically arrangedin manifold ways on the display by user input or automatically. The sizeof the display area for an object may vary as well. The size of theplayback of the animation depends in particular on the size of thedisplay area that is associated with the object to which the animationbelongs.

For which graphic objects animations may be run depends in particular onthe functions that are associated with the respective graphic object.Preferably, animations run for all represented graphic objects in theirrespective display areas, which illustrate the function associated withthe respective graphic object.

According to the method of an example embodiment of the presentinvention, the animation breaks off following the selection of a graphicobject, and the function associated with the object is executed. Thefunction associated with the object may also result in a change of thedisplayed image such that when executing the function the graphic objectis not longer displayed or is displayed in another position or inanother size.

According to the method, the animation illustrates the functionassociated with the graphic object in that it shows, at leastschematically, an image sequence, which corresponds to an image sequencethat is shown when the object is selected. If the function for exampleis that in representing a two-dimensional object, the object is turnedover from one side, on which certain information is displayed, to theother side, on which other information is displayed, then an imagesequence of a rotation of the two-dimensional object is displayed in thedisplay area of the graphic object. In particular, an image sequence isdisplayed in the animation, which produces the impression of acontinuous movement for the observer. For this purpose, the imagesequence contains a multitude of intermediate images.

The display of the animation for a graphic object takes a certain timeinterval. After the animation has run completely, it is preferablyrepeated continuously. This repetition of the animation is performedparticularly for all graphic objects, for which an animation isdisplayed when showing the list.

The device for displaying information, in particular in a vehicle, ischaracterized by the fact that prior to the selection of one of theobjects, the control unit is able to produce an animation in the displayarea of at least one graphic object, which illustrates the functionassociated with the graphic object. This animation is run on the displaywhen the list is displayed.

The input device may include for example a touch-sensitive surface ofthe display (touch screen). Furthermore, the input device may include anoperating element that is separate from the display.

Moreover, the input device may include a device for detecting andevaluating a gesture of a body part of a user, which is performed infront of the display. For this purpose, the input device may include inparticular a receiving device, to which a signal from the body part ofthe user may be transmitted capacitively when the body part is inproximity of the receiving device. The position of the body part may bedetected via this capacitive coupling. From the change of this positionover time, a gesture of the user may be inferred. Furthermore, the inputdevice may include an infrared light source or a receiver for reflectedinfrared light for detecting the gesture of the body part of the user.In this case as well, the position of the body part and its change overtime are detected and interpreted as a gesture.

The animation or animations may be produced by the control unit itself.The manner in which the animation is produced may depend on vehicleparameters such as the speed of the vehicle. Furthermore, the controlunit may be coupled with a memory, in which data are stored for theanimation or animations. In this case, for producing the animation, theanimation data are transmitted from the memory to the control unit,which uses them in producing the graphics data that are rendered on thedisplay.

Example embodiments of the present invention will now be explained withreference to the drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows schematically a device according to an example embodimentof the present invention and the connection of this device to otherdevices of the vehicle.

FIGS. 2A-2D illustrate an animation for a graphic object of the list,which is rendered on the display.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The exemplary embodiment described in the following relates toinformational displays in a vehicle, in particular in a motor vehicle.In the same manner, however, example embodiments of the presentinvention may also be used in informational displays outside of avehicle, e.g. in the display of information on a mobile device.

The display device includes a display 1 for the graphical representationof information. Display 1 may be a matrix display, e.g. an LCD (liquidcrystal display), especially a color display using TFT (thin-filmtransistor) technology. Furthermore, the display may be a so-calledtwisted nematic-liquid crystal display (TN-LCD), a super twisted nematic(STN) display, a double-layer STN, an FLC (ferroelectric liquid crystal)display or an SSFLC (surface stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystal)display. Display 1 has an associated back-lighting (not shown), whichmay be provided by one or more light-emitting diodes. Display 1 isfreely programmable, i.e. any desired graphics data may be produced,which are represented on display 1.

In particular, display 1 is mounted in an area of the vehicle that isclearly visible at least for the driver. If the operator control of thedevices of the vehicle is directly coupled to the placement of thedisplay, so that, for example, the user must bring his hand or hisfinger at least into the vicinity of display 1 in order to make inputs,then display 1 is positioned such that the driver of the vehicle mayeasily reach it with his hand or his finger. For instance, display 1 maybe accommodated in the center console of the vehicle.

Display 1 is connected to a control unit 2, which is able to producegraphics data for graphic objects displayable on display 1. Control unit2 is also connected to an input device 4, via which the user is able tocontrol devices of the vehicle, the information of which is shown ondisplay 1.

For example, input device 4 may be a device for detecting and evaluatinga gesture of a body part of a user. For instance, the hand of the usermay perform the gesture in front of display 1. For this purpose, thethree-dimensional position of the hand is detected in a specificdetection area in front of display 1, without it being necessary totouch display 1. The admissible detection area depends on the placementof display 1 in the motor vehicle. The area should be selected in such away that the presence of the hand of a user in this detection area maybe associated unequivocally with an operative control of input device 4.The boundary of the detection area may be e.g. 40 cm to 10 cm in frontof display 1. If the hand of the user is brought up closer than thisthreshold value to display 1, this is detected by input device 4, andthe approach is interpreted as an operating intention. For instance,this may result in a change in the manner the objects represented ondisplay 1 are rendered. Input device 4 detects the position and themovement of the hand of the user in the detection area. In the process,various gestures performed by the hand are recognized and interpreted asinputs.

Input device 4 may include e.g. infrared light sources and infraredlight receivers, which detect the infrared light reflected by the hand.Details of such an input device are described in DE 100 58 244, therespective disclosed content of which is hereby incorporated byreference. Further input devices, which may be used in conjunction withthe display device, are described in the following publications: DE 10305 341 and DE 10 2004 048 956.

Furthermore, the position of the hand and its change over time may alsobe detected by an optical system. In this system, a light-emitting diodeemits e.g. square-wave, amplitude-modulated light. This light isreflected by the object to be detected, i.e. the hand, and after thereflection reaches a photodiode. Another light-emitting diode likewiseemits square-wave, amplitude-modulated light to the photodiode, whichlight is phase-shifted by 180° however. At the photodiode, the two lightsignals are superposed and cancel each other out if they have exactlythe same amplitude. If the signals do not cancel each other out at thephotodiode, the light emission of the second diode is regulated via acontrol loop in such a way that the total received signal again adds upto zero. If the position of the object changes, this also causes achange in the light component which arrives at the photodiode from thefirst light-emitting diode via the reflection on the object. This bringsabout a correction of the intensity of the second light-emitting diodethrough the control loop. The control signal is therefore a measure forthe reflection of the light, which is emitted by the first diode, on theobject. In this manner, it is possible to derive from the control signala signal that is characteristic for the position of the object.

In addition, the input device may be a touch-sensitive film, which isprovided on display 1. The film makes it possible to detect the positionat which the user touches display 1 situated behind the film. The filmmay be developed e.g. as a resistive touch film, a capacitive touch filmor piezoelectric film. Furthermore, the film may be developed so as tomeasure a heat flow emanating e.g. from the finger of a user. Variousinputs may be obtained from the development of the touch of the filmover time. In the simplest case, for example, a touch of the film at aspecific position may be allocated to a graphic object shown on display1. Furthermore, sliding movements of the finger over the film may beinterpreted. In particular, in this manner the user is able to define aline on display 1, in that he touches the film at one point, slides onthe film toward another point and removes the finger from the film atthe other point.

Finally, a separate operating element may be used as input device. Inparticular, the separate operating element is a mechanical operatingelement. For instance, a rotary switch may be provided, by which objectsshown on the display are controllable and are selectable by pressing therotary switch. Furthermore, an angle of rotation may also be inputdirectly by the rotary switch, as will be explained later. In addition,separate press switches may be disposed around the rotary switch, thearrangement of display fields on the display, which are associated withthe press switches, corresponding at least schematically to thearrangement of the press switches.

The informational system according to the present invention may includea multifunction operating device as described in EP 1 212 208 forexample.

Control unit 2 is further coupled to a system clock 8 and to a vehiclebus 7. Control unit 2 is connected to driver assistance systems of thevehicle via vehicle bus 7. Control unit 2 receives data from thesedriver assistance systems via vehicle bus 7, and prepares these data sothat they are displayed graphically to the driver or the vehicleoccupants via display 1. To this end, control unit 2 produces graphicsdata for objects displayable on display 1, which, inter alia,graphically represent the information of the driver assistance systems.Control unit 2 is furthermore connected via vehicle bus 7 to variousinformation, communication and entertainment devices of the vehicle. Thevaried information from these devices of the vehicle is processed incontrol unit 2 and converted into graphics data for a graphicalrepresentation. For animations of the graphical representation on thedisplay, the control unit includes an computing unit 3, which accessessystem clock 8 in producing intermediate images.

In the following, the display of information on display 1 in the vehicleis explained in detail:

Display 1 represents a list having multiple graphic objects 6. The listmay be part of a menu for example. Display 1 may graphically representeither all objects 6 of the list or only some of the objects 6 of thelist. Each represented graphic object 6 has an associated display areaon the display. The size of the display area depends particularly on thesize of display 1 and on the number of graphic objects 6 to berepresented. As described above, graphic objects 6 are selectable viainput device 4 for executing a function associated with graphic object6.

Prior to selecting one of objects 6, an animation runs in the displayarea of at least one graphic object 6, which illustrates the functionassociated with the graphic object. The animation runs within the windowthat is formed by the display area of the associated graphic object 6.

In the following, an animation is explained with reference to FIGS. 2Athrough 2D, which runs in the display area of a graphic object 6, whichis associated with a function that results in a rotation of atwo-dimensional graphic object. This function is illustrated in theanimation in that a two-dimensional object is rotated in perspective by180°. An image sequence with numerous intermediate images is shown inthe animation, which creates the impression of a continuous rotation foran observer. FIGS. 2A through 2D show some of the intermediate images ofthe animation. In the process, object 9, which is shown within asubsection of the display area of graphic object 6, is rotated about avertical axis. At the beginning of the rotation, the vertical axiscoincides with the right vertical lateral edge of object 9. In thecourse of the rotation, the vertical axis is shifted in the horizontaldirection from the right edge of the subsection of the display area ofobject 6 to the left edge of the subsection of the display area ofobject 6. At the same time, object 9 is rotated about the vertical axis,as is shown in FIGS. 2A through 2D. After a rotation by 180°, thevertical axis is situated on the left edge of the subsection of thedisplay area of object 6. In the process, the horizontal shift of thevertical axis is synchronized in a linear manner with the rotation ofgraphic object 9.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   1 display-   2 control device-   3 computing unit-   4 input device-   5 memory-   6 graphic object-   7 vehicle bus-   8 system clock-   9 object

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for displaying information,comprising: graphically displaying in a display a list of multiplegraphic objects, each represented graphic object having an associateddisplay area on the display, and the objects being selectable forexecuting a function; prior to selecting one of the objects,simultaneously running an animation in each of the display areas, eachanimation illustrating the function associated with the graphic objectin the display area of the animation, wherein each animation illustratesthe function associated with the graphic object in the display area ofthe animation, in that it shows, at least schematically, an imagesequence corresponding to an image sequence that is shown when theobject is selected; and following selection of the one of the objects,ending the simultaneously running animations and executing the functionassociated with the selected object; wherein the display is arranged ina vehicle, and further wherein at least one of the animations displayedprior to selecting one of the objects, depends on a vehicle speed. 2.The method according to claim 1, wherein animations run for allrepresented graphic objects in their respective display areas toillustrate the function associated with the respective graphic object.3. The method according to claim 1, wherein an image sequence isdisplayed in the animation, which creates an impression of a continuousmovement for the observer.
 4. The method according to claim 1, whereinthe animation is shown repeatedly in succession.
 5. A device fordisplaying information, comprising: a display adapted for graphicalrepresentation of information; a control unit adapted to producegraphics data, which graphically represent at least one list of multiplegraphic objects on the display, each represented graphic object havingan associated display area on the display and function; and an inputdevice adapted to select an object shown on the display; wherein thecontrol unit is adapted to produce, prior to selection of one of theobjects, a simultaneous display of an animation in each of the displayareas, each animation illustrating the function associated with theobject in the display area of the animation, wherein each animationillustrates the function associated with the graphic object in thedisplay area of the animation in that it shows, at least schematically,an image sequence corresponding to an image sequence that is shown whenthe object is selected; wherein, following selection of the one of theobjects, the control unit is further adapted to end the simultaneousanimations and execute the function associated with the selected object;wherein the display is arranged in a vehicle, and further wherein atleast one of the animations displayed prior to selecting one of theobjects, depends on a vehicle speed.
 6. The device according to claim 5,wherein the input device includes a touch-sensitive surface of thedisplay.
 7. The device according to claim 5, wherein the input deviceincludes an operating element that is separate from the display.
 8. Thedevice according to claim 5, wherein the device includes a memorycoupled to the control unit and adapted to store data for the animation.9. The device according to claim 5, wherein the device is adapted toperform the method recited in claim
 1. 10. The method according to claim1, wherein the method is performed by the device recited in claim
 5. 11.The method according to claim 1, wherein the object is selected inresponse to a gesture of a body part in front of the display withouttouching the display.